Angus, America’s Breed
Angus Convention celebrates CAB 40th anniversary, education and business.
“Certified Angus Beef® is a testament to having a powerful brand that provides unmatched customer service coupled with the highest-quality products in the world,” said Allen Moczygemba, American Angus Association CEO, at the fifth-annual Angus Convention hosted Nov. 3-5, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. “Angus is now synonymous with beef.”
“Certified Angus Beef® is a testament to having a powerful brand that provides unmatched customer service coupled with the highest-quality products in the world,” said Allen Moczygemba, American Angus Association CEO, at the fifth-annual Angus Convention hosted Nov. 3-5, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. “Angus is now synonymous with beef.” |
Despite a year of sporadic weather patterns and widespread hardship for the entire ag industry, registrations for Angus cattle are high. Each entity of the Association celebrated hard-fought successes in 2018.
Thanks to an increase in genomic testing through Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), members collectively saved $1.5 million this year. Moczygemba attributed this to price reductions by Neogen and Zoetis based on the volume the Association was processing. He said it is a direct result of the members embracing the new technology and its ability to improve their operation.
Angus Productions Inc. (API) is embracing the digital age in 2018 by increasing total page views of online sale books to 42 million.
API took on two complete magazine redesigns in a year. What began last fall came to fruition with the January 2018 Angus Journal and September 2018 Angus Beef Bulletin. Both the Bulletin and Angus Journal significantly increased their pages of advertising as a result.
“The Foundation continued its mission of serving youth, education and research,” Moczygemba said. “This year we celebrated 50 years of the National Junior Angus Show. It was a great event in Wisconsin, with great weather and participation from members young and old.”
Moczygemba reminded the audience how failing to listen to the customer is detrimental to any organization, as the breed learned in the 1970s. Tall and slender cattle trended, while quality simultaneously deteriorated.
“Beef consumption over those next 20 years went down because the product didn’t taste as good,” he said. “The American Angus Association Board got concerned about what was happening for the Association as registrations went down by 63.5%.”
A turnaround began with a letter penned by Harold Etling in 1975, explaining the need for a branded-beef program. CAB celebrates 40 years of success in 2018, while the new Angus LinkSM recounts its first 365 days. Moczygemba compared the decision to start CAB to that of Angus Link. Though very different programs, both required a strategy.
It started simply with a vision, followed by courage, commitment, perseverance, resolve and time.
“There is a common denominator between CAB and Angus Link, and that’s Angus,” Moczygemba said. “You put all these things together and you will ultimately have success.”
Moczygemba said many believe Angus Link has a similar story to CAB, one beginning with a vision, sustaining some struggle, but quickly rising to the occasion.
“When you share the story of Angus, don’t only share what you do every day or the pride you have, share that we are continuously raising our standards,” Moczygemba added. “Not only our standards, but for the entire industry because we are Angus. We are America’s breed.”
Association elects new officers, board leadership
Five directors were elected to the 2018-2019 American Angus Association Board of Directors, as well as a president and chairman and a vice president and vice chairman of the board, during the 135th Annual Convention of Delegates hosted at the 2018 Angus Convention in Columbus, Ohio.
A total of 298 delegates from 41 states and districts represented Association members at the Annual Convention of Delegates and elected the 2018-2019 officers and directors. |
A total of 298 delegates from 41 states and districts represented Association members at the Annual Convention of Delegates and elected the 2018-2019 officers and directors. Directors can serve up to two three-year terms on the Board and, if elected, serve additional one-year terms in office as president and chairman and/or vice president and vice chairman.
Elected to his first term is Jim Brinkley, Missouri; and elected to their second three-year terms are James Coffey, Kentucky; Chuck Grove, Virginia; Mike McCravy, Georgia; and Mick Varilek, South Dakota.
John Pfeiffer Jr., Mulhall, Okla., was elected as Association president and chairman of the board. Don Schiefelbein, Kimball, Minn., was elected Association vice president and vice chairman. David Dal Porto, Oakley, Calif., who is currently serving his second term on the Board, will serve as the 2018-2019 Association treasurer.
For more information on the Angus Convention, see the Angus Beef Bulletin, Angus Journal, The Angus Report and www.angus.org.